Elaboration of hybrid cotton fibers treated with an ionogel/carbon nanotube mixture using a sol-gel approach

Ionic liquid (IL) synergy with other materials may influence their properties significantly. Nevertheless, their advantageous liquid state turns out to be an impediment for applications in devices which need stable solid state shaping. In the current study we present a novel method where new siloxane functionalized IL acts as a modifier for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and titanium alkoxide-CNT coated hybrid cotton fibers. This elaborated route carried out by interconnected and entangled ionic liquid, sol-gel and solid carbon nanotube networks opens up opportunities for functionalization of sol-gel materials with different shapes and sizes. The comparison of properties of IL, ionogel, ionogel/CNT mixture and titanium alkoxide coatings is performed. Ionogel-modified cotton fibers have increased hydrophobicity, linear density, breaking force and ultimate strength as compared to the uncoated cotton fibers. These properties are ensured even after washing threads with water. A uniformly coated CNT network around the fibers strengthens the material and increases its electric conductivity. New type of hybrids can be utilized in formulations which have UV-shielding and hydrophobic properties as well as for antibacterial properties. Characterization studies of the product were carried out by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy.